Some Lumber Specialty Item Prices Increase
As January 2023 got going, while hardly a big rush, there was an increase in sales — and therefore prices — of several specialty lumber items. Even benchmark WSPF 2x4s popped up a little bit, although more due to significant supply being taken offline than growing demand. There were inklings, however, that customers are making plans for the looming building season this spring. While lumber sellers did spend more time fielding inquiries than actually booking sales of wood, there was a palpable increase in demand. It’s possible that an equitable supply-demand balance has been reached, and prices are starting to come up off the floor of the usually lowest time of the year.
In the week ending January 13, 2023, the price of benchmark softwood lumber item Western Spruce-Pine-Fir 2x4 #2&Btr KD (RL) was US$370 mfbm, which is up by +$18 or +5%, from the previous week when it was US$352 mfbm, said weekly forest products industry price guide newsletter Madison’s Lumber Reporter. This is down by -$23, or 6%, from one month ago when it was $393.
